Method of and apparatus for decorating bottles and like articles



Oct. 11, 1938. c. CONE 2,132,818

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DECORATING BOTTLES AND LIKE ARTICLES Original Filed June 18. I936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CARROLL Coma ATTORN s.

Oct. 11, 1938. Q CONE 2,132,818

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DECORATING BOTTLES AND LIKE ARTICLES Original Filed June 18. 1936 s sheets-sneet 2 El E] CARROLL Com: 'F BY .Lj: 7 /M Y IN V EN TOR.

A TTORN S.

C. CONE Oct. 11, 1938.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DECORATING BOTTLES AND LIKE ARTICLES Original Filed June 18, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

CARROLL Cour r/ IT -1 [1* tion may readily be effected upon the bottles or Patented Oct. 11, 1938 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DECO- RATING BOTTLES AND LIKE ARTICLES Carroll Cone, Alton, Ill., assignor to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application June 18, 1m, Serial No. sass: Renewed March 1, 19a:

iii Claims. (Cl. 1o1-11 s) The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for decorating or marking cylindrical bottles and like articles with multi-colored lettering or other desired designs by a screen process in which the ink or coloring material is forced through a stencil screen by means of a squeegee.

An object of thepresent invention is the provision of a novel method of and apparatus for decorating bottles or other articles whereby accurate relative positioning of several independently applied colors of a given design or decoraother articles. Toward this end, the apparatus includes means for moving the bottles or other articles axially Just prior to arrival at the decorating station or position, if such movement is necessary, to properly locate the independently applied colors of the decoration lengthwise of the articles and additional means intended to cooperate with an integral part of the articles and functioning to insure proper circumferential positioning of the various independently applied colors of the design or decoration upon the articles.

Another object of the invention is, the provision of a device formed integral with the bottle or other article and designed for cooperation with a' holder in order to insure proper relative positioning of the article and screen prior to the decorating operation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: I

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a decorating apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a bottle to which one colored portion of a design or decoration has been applied;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the second colored portion of the design or decoration applied in a predetermined position relative to the first applied portion;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the metal screen which forms a part of the decorating apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line 'II of Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along the'line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view showing that part of the apparatus illustrated in Fig; 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional elevational view of the cooperating locking devices on the bottle and bottom engaging chuck;

the present invention; and

of squeegees 24.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing .a recess on. the periphery of the base Fig. 15 is a sectional view, similar to Fig."7, showing a modified form of pinion employed in connection with the invention.

My invention is'illustrated as embodied in a decorating apparatus including an endless horizontal conveyor I5, provided with a conventional tightening mechanism I4, and supported upon a wheeled frame l6 or carrier, said conveyor carrying a series of article holding units II which are adapted to carry bottles B or other similar articles in succession beneath a stencil screen The conveyor is .driven by a motor [9 to which driving connection is eifected by a chain or like element. Supporting rails 2I or tracks constitute a part of the frame I6 and assist in supporting the weight of the :series of article holding units II.

The screen I8 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, is formed of a thin metal sheet in which the design 22 is created by a plurality of comparatively close grouped apertures 23 through which the coloring material is adapted to be forced by means This screen is carried by a frame 25 (Figs. 1 and 4) which is supported on the upper side of the main frame I6. An endless chain 28, running over sprockets 21 at one end of the frame, carries the squeegees 24 which are moved in succession over the screen in timed relation with the arrival of the article holding units I I at the decorating station D. One of thesprockets 21 is driven by the motor I9 which transmits power through the chain 20, horizontal transverse shaft 28, meshing bevel gears 29, horizontal longitudinal shafts Ill and I2 between which a reduction device I I is interposed, bevel gears I3, and vertical shaft I4 which carries the sprocket 21 above referred to. The entire stencil assembly just described is positioned in a region above the conveyor I5 and is designated as the decorating station D.

Each of the article holding units II consists of an elongated frame 3|, positioned outside the endless surface of the conveyor I5, and connected to and supported by links 32 by means of a pair of pivot pins 33. At adjacent ends of each pair of pivot pins 33, a pair of plain rollers 34 are arranged, while at the other. ends, rollers 35, each having a circumferential V-shaped rib 36 are arranged. The plain rollers 34 are adapted to rideover a raised track or cam 31 (Figs. 1 and 4) at the decorating station or zone D in order shaped rib 36 rides or is guided in a longitudiwise position of the bottles relative to the screen is concerned. Toward this end, the annular V- nal channel or groove 39 in the upper surface 'of the rail 38.

The frame 3| of each article holding unit carries a pair of cooperating chucks which are disposed at opposite sides of the conveyor IS. The

head chuck 40 is mountedupon a slide 4| and includes an elastic cup 42 mounted in a holder 43 which, in turn, is supported upon a short shaft 44. zontal bearing 45 and thrust bearing 45. A coil spring 4'! connecting the inner end of the slide 4| and the frame 3| tends to move the cup 42 to its innermost article engaging position.

A base chuck 48 at the opposite end of the frame 3| cooperates with a pair of rollers "49 in supporting the base or bottom end of the bottle or other article in the necessary position for decorating or stenciling purposes. The base chuck includes a rotary head 50 carrying a block or pad 5| of rubber or like material, said head including a short horizontal shaft 52 journaled in a relatively stationary bearing 53 which may well constitute an integral part of the frame 3|.

A spring pressed detent 54 -(Figs. 8 and 10), havapplied to the bottle and occupying a definite position with respect to the boss 58, may occupy the same relative position in the article holding unit when the second or additional color or portion of the decoration or design is subsequently applied to the bottle. To further insure accurate setting of a bottle and chucks 48 and 48 making up a single holder, preparatory to application of the second color or portion of the design, the head 50 is connected through a shaft 53 to a pinion 88, the latter including a hub 5|, which in cross-section is in the form of a Geneva gear, rotatively'engaging the outer end of the bearing 53. The hub 8| is frictionally held against relative rotation with respect to the bear-,

ing member 53 by means of a friction element in the form of a spring pressed ball 62 carried by the hub and riding in a circular path on the surface of the stationary bearing member 53. A plurality of recesses 63, 84, 65 and I! (Fig. 7), formed in the bearing member 53, are positioned in the path of the spring pressed ball 82 and provide seats for this element that determine definite angular locations of the head 58 and article supported thereby.

The machine is designed to receive the bottles or other articles at station C adjacent the righthand end of the same as seen from Fig. 1, and in placing the articles in position between the head chuck 48 and the base chuck 48, the operator, by engaging the head chuck 48 with the head of the bottles B, causes the slide 4| to be moved outwardly to permit the base of the bottles to This shaft is journalled in a hori- I f i clear the base chuck 48 for positioning thereon. In individually positioningthe articles between the head chuck 40 and the base chuck 48, it is not necessary for the operator .to effect .im- ,mediate, accurate, interlocking engagement between the boss 58 and the spring pressed detent 54. Such interlocking engagement may be accomplished after the articles are placed between the head and. base'chucks 40 and 48 by rotatingthe articles on the base chuck relative to ,the, base chuck'until the boss 58 engages either of the guiding cam surfaces 51 and depresses the detent 54 to permit the boss to enter the notch 56. In so positioning the articles, the base chuck 48 is frictionally held against rotation in the bearing 53 by means of the spring pressed ball 62 which occupies a position in the recess 65. I

A removable stationary rack 86, positioned adjacent the receiving station C, and between this station and the decorating station D, is designed to be tractionally engaged by the pinion 68 as the conveyor l5 carries the article holding units l1 therebeneath. The number of teeth on therack 56 are calculated so that tractional engagement between the rack 86 and pinion causes rotation of the base chuck 48 throughout an arc of 90 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. '7. Such rotation of the base chuck brings the boss 58 to its bottommost position in the machine with the diametrically opposed region of the bottle in an elevated position and thus the bottle is passed to the decorating station D in contact with the underneath side of the stencil screen ill to receive the color impression therefrom. During such rotation, the

spring pressed element 62 is dislodged from the depression 65 and moves in an arcuate path to enter the next adjacent depression 83.

As each unit ll approaches the decorating station D, the rollers 34 and 35 ride upon the elevated tracks 31 and 38 respectively in the manner previously described to elevate the opposite ends of the bottle and thus bring the entire .bottle into engagement with the stencil screen 18.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 7 and 8, an elevated guide 10 is positioned above the tracks 31 and 38 between the receiving station C and the decorating station D and is designed for cooperation with one flat side I2 of the Geneva-shaped hub ii to insure exact orientation of the bottles in their approach to the decorating station. Thus, any discrepancy in orientation of thearticles that might ordinarily occur after the articles leave the receiving station C by virtue of the spring pressed friction member 52 failing to find its proper position within the depression 55 is automatically corrected.

A second stationary rack 14 is positioned on the underneath side of the stencil frame 25 and is designed for tractional engagement with the pinion 50, to cause the bottles to engage the underneath side of the stencil screen I8 by a rolling contact in order that the design may be applied by the traveling squeegees 24 progressively to the surface of the same. The number of teeth provided on the rack 14 is calculated to impart rotation to the base chuck 48 throughout an arc of a portion of which rotation occurs simultaneously with the application of the design by the squeegee elements 24.

Upon leaving the decorating station D, the base chuck 48, having been rotated throughout an arc of 90'by the rack 85 and an arc of 180 by the rack 14, occupies an angular position 270 removed from its original position at the receiving station C. In this position the spring pressed friction element 62 has entered and occupiesthe depression 64 adjacent the face 12 of the Genevashaped hub 6|.

The decorated or partially decorated bottles are removed from the machine at an unloading or discharging station E and'the empty units II In are returned to the receiving station C along the underneath side of the conveyor. In order to restore the base chuck 48 to its bottle receiving position, a stationary rack I5, adjustably positioned as at 16 to a portion of'the frame l6 for I? movement into or out of the path of the moving pinions .60, tractionally engages the pinions 60 of each unit as they pass along the underneath side of the conveyor and cause them to be rotated throughout an arc of 90, thus causing the spring so pressed elements 82 to again enter the depressions 65.

In use, a single machine may, by substitution of the stencil pattern, be employed for the application of two or more of the component colors of a design to the articles. For convenience and economy of operation, however, the use of separate, substantially identical machines, one for each color or component part of the design, is contemplated. In the latter instance, an initial application is made on the articles by the first machine in one color in the manner described above, and. the articles are removed from the machine, dried, and passedto the next machine for application of the second color or component part of the design. Because of the fact that in each machine the stationary racks 66, 14 and 15 combine in their tractional engagement with the pinions 60 to impart to the base chucks 48 rotational movement throughout a complete cycle or 360, proper insertion of the articles in the various machines that may be employed, will insure application of the component parts of the design at the same corresponding position on the bottles, as clearly shown in Figs. .15 2 and 3.

In certain instances it may be desired to apply single colored or multl-eolored designs to the articles in adjacent quadrants on the circumferential surface thereof. In such cases, the ini- 50 tial design may be made on the articles in one machine in the manner previously described. The second design or'color may be applied by a second machine which has been modified by removing the rack 66 and substituting in its stead' the rack 13 shown in Fig. 12. The teeth of the rack 13 are calculated to impart rotational movement to the articles throughout an arc of 180 during their movement from the receiving station C to the decorating station D. Thus, the articles arrive at the decorating station D in a relative position advanced ninety degrees from the position they assumed at the same relative station in the preceding machine.

In proceeding from the receiving station C to the decorating station D, the spring pressed friction element 62 moves from the notch 65 which it occupied upon arrival at the receiving station C to a notch 11 diametrically opposed on the face of the Geneva-shaped hub 6|. In thus moving from the notch 65 to the notch '11, one face 18 of the Geneva-shaped hub 6| is brought into position for engagement with the elevated guide 10 to arrest rotation of the articles and insure accurate orientation thereof upon commencement of the decorating operation.

During the application of the design to the articles at the decorating station D, the stationary rack 14 will cause further rotation of the base chuck 48 through an arc of 180. The

position it occupied initially at the receiving station C with the springpressed element 62 re-' ceived in the depression 65. In order that the rack 15 will not function to destroy the orientation thus attained by the articles, an adjustment may be made at 16 to lower the rack on the frame IE to an inoperative position.

In Figs. 13, 14 and 15, instrumentalities are shown in the form of machine elements designed for substitution in a single machine or in a pair of machines to effect decoration of the articles at adjacent sextants on the surface thereof. In so decorating the articles, where two machines are employed, the racks 66, 14, and 15 are removed from the machine and in the place of a.

each is substituted a rack (Fig. 13) designed to impart angular movement to the base chucks 48 through an angle of 120. The pinions 60, having the Geneva-shaped hubs 8|, are removed from the machine. and in their stead are substituted similar pinions 8| (shown in Fig. 15), having hubs 82 provided with a surface 83-designed for engagement with the rack I8 for accurate orientation of the articles during movement from the receiving station C to the decorating station D. A pair of depressions 84 and 85 are provided in the stationary bearing member 53 and these depressions are positioned in the path of the spring pressed element 62 at points spaced apart one hundred and twenty degrees. Thus, in moving from the receiving station C to the decorating station D, the base chuck 48 is rotated through an angle of and in so rotating, the spring pressed element 62 moves from the depression 63 to the depression 85.

During the decorating operation at-the station D, the base chuck 48 is rotated through an angle of 120 by virtue of tractional engagement between the pinion 8| and the second rack 80, at which time the spring pressed element moves to the depression 84. During the return of the empty units I! to the receiving station, an additional angular rotation of 120 is imparted to the chucks 48 by the third rack 80, during which the spring pressed element 82 returns to the depression 63, and thus the chucks are restored to their initial position upon their return to the receiving station. I

After the articles have been removed from the first machine and dried, they are introduced into a second machine in which the first rack 80 adjacent the receiving station C has been removed and replaced by the rack 81 shown in Fig. 14 which is designed to initially impart rotational movement to the articles throughout an angle of 240. Thus the articles arrive at the decorating station at a relative position advanced 120 from the position they occupied in the first machine in order that the decoration or one component color thereof may be applied to the articles in the next adjacent sextant to the one already decorated. The second rack 80 positioned at the decorating station D serves to impart rotational movement to the articles during the decorating thereof through an angle of 120 to restore the base chuck to its original position before return to the receiving station C. A third rack 80 is thus rendered unnecessary in the second machine and consequently it is removed therefrom.

base chuck 48 is thus restored to the relative Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for decorating articles, a plurality of bodily movable and freely rotatable chucks for conveying articles to be decorated from a receiving station to a decorating station, cooperating means on said articles and chucks for holding the articles in similar relative fixed positions at said receiving station, and means operable during the travel of said chucks and articles carried thereby from the receiving station to said decorating station adapted to successively and tractionally engage said chucks and rotate the same about their respective axes throughout a predetermined degree to orient the articles so as to present corresponding selected peripheral areas of the same for decoration at the decorating station.

2. In an apparatus for decorating articles, a plurality of bodily movable and freely rotatable chucks for conveying articles to be decorated from a receiving station to a decorating station, cooperating means on said articles and chucks for holding the articles in similar relative fixed positions at said receiving station, and means positioned between said stations adapted to successively and tractionaliy engage sai'd chucks and rotate the same throughout a predetermined degree during the travel of said articles from the receiving station to the decorating station to orient said articles and present corresponding selected peripheral areas of the same for decoration at the decorating station.

3. In an apparatus for decorating articles, an endless conveyor for conveying the articles to be decorated from a receiving station toa decorating station, and means positioned between said stations and cooperating with the conveyor for causing corresponding selected peripheral areas of said articles to be presented for decoration at said decorating station.

4. In an apparatus for decorating articles, a plurality of article holding units having rotary chucks between which said articles are supported, means for continually moving said units past receiving, decorating and discharging stations, .means positioned between the receiving and decorating stations in the path of said units and adapted to engage said chucks to impart rotation to the same through a predetermined angle before arrival of the units at said decorat ing station, means positioned at the decorating station in the path of said units and adapted to engage said chucks to impart further rotation to the same during the decoration of said articles, and means positioned between the discharging and receiving stations in the path of said units for engaging said chucks and restoring the same to their initial position before their return to the receiving station. a

5. In an apparatus for decorating articles, a plurality of article holding units having rotary chucks between which said articles are received, means for continuously moving said units past receiving, decorating and unloading stations in the order named, and tractional means positioned between said two first mentioned stations, at said second mentioned station, and between said two last mentioned stations, and between saidarticles, for engaging said chucks and rotating the same through an angle of 360.

6. In an apparatus for decorating bottles, a stencil screen and squeegee assembly for applying a design to said bottles during the decoration thereof, a plurality of bottle holding units for presenting selected areas of said bottles to said stencil screen to receive the design, means for holding said bottles in the same relative initial position in said units, means for moving said units bodily into bottle decorating position, and means interchangeably positioned in the path of movement of said units for causing different degrees of axial rotation of said units to vary the selected areas of the bottles which are presented for decoration.

7. In an apparatus for decorating bottles, a stencil screen and squeegee assembly for applying a design to said bottles, a plurality of bottle holding units for presenting selected areas of the bottles to said stencil screen to receive the design, during the decoration thereof, means for holding said bottles in the same relative initial position in said units, means for moving said units bodily into bottle decorating position, and cooperating means positioned in the path of movement of said units for causing axial rotation of said bottles through a predetermined angle before presentation of the same to said screen.

8. In an apparatus for decorating bottles, a stencil screen and squeegee assembly for applying a design to said bottles, a plurality of bottle holding units for presenting selected areas of the bottles to said stencil screen to receive the design, means for holding the bottles in the same relative initial position in said units, means interchangeably positioned in the. path of movement of said units for causing different degrees of axial rotation of said units to vary the selected areas of the bottles which are presented for decoration.

9. In an apparatus for decorating articles, a plurality of article holding units having rotary chucks between which said articles are received, means for continually moving said units past receiving, decorating and discharging stations in the order named, means positioned between said receiving station and said decorating station in the path of said units and adapted to engage said chucks to impart rotation to the same through a predetermined angle before arrival of saidunits at said decorating station, and means positioned at said decorating station and in the path of said units and adapted to engage said chucks to impart further rotation to the same during the decorating operation to restore said,

chucks to their original relative positions in their respective units.

10. In an apparatus for decorating articles, a plurality of article holding units having rotary chucks between which said articles are received, means for continually moving said units past receiving, decorating and discharging stations in the order named, means operable during the travel of said units from said receiving station to said decorating station for rotating said chucks to orient said articles so as to present corresponding selected area of the same for decoration at said decorating station, means for rotating said chucks during travel of the units past said decorating station, and means operable during the travel of said units from said discharging station to said receiving station for restoring said chucks to their initial position in said units at said receiving station.

' 11. In combination, an apparatus for decorating bottles by a stenciling process, a stencil screen and squeegee assembly for applying a design to said bottles. a head chuck and a base chuck adapted to support a bottle therebetween, a spring pressed detent carried by one of said chucks and normally projecting outwardly therefrom, a notch formed in the projecting end of said detent, and a projection integrally formed on the bottle and designed for cooperation with said notch for maintaining a desired orientation of said bottle and said specified chuck.

12. In combination, an apparatus for decorating bottles by a stenciling process, a stencil screen and squeegee assembly for applying a design to said bottles, a head chuck and a base chuck adapted to support a bottle therebetween, yieldable means normally urging said head chuck toward said base chuck, a spring pressed detent carried by said base chuck and normally projecting outwardly therefrom in the direction of said head chuck, a notch formed in the projecting end of said detent, and a projection integrally formed on the bottle and designed for cooperation with said notch for maintaining a desired orientation of said'bottle on said base chuck.

13. The method of presenting a selected area on the exterior of a bottle having a locating mark thereon to a stencil screen in the decoration thereof which comprises, supporting said bottle for free rotation about its own axis and assigning to said bottle a predetermined angular position' as determined by the orientation of said mark with respect to said stencil screen, moving said bottle and the supporting means therefor bodily toward said stencil screen, and interposing in the path of movement of said bottle and supporting means a traction device adapted to be engaged by said supporting means and which by rolling contact therewith causes the latter to be rotated throughout a predetermined angular degree prior to presentation of said bottle to said stencil screen.

14. The method of applying diiferently colored pigments to selected areas on the! exterior surface of vva bottle or similar container having a locating mark thereon which comprises, supporting said bottle for free rotation about its own axis and assigning to said bottle a predetermined angular position as determined by the orientation of said mark with respect to a stencil screen, moving said bottle and the supporting means therefor bodily toward said stencil screen, effecting rotation of the bottle throughout a predetermined degree of angularity prior to presentation of said bottle to said stencil screen, establishing tangential rolling line contact between the exterior surface of said bottle and the stencii screen, and forcing coloring material through said screen and onto a selected area of the exterior surface of said bottle.

15. The method of applying differently colored pigments to selected areas on the exterior surface of a bottle having a locating mark thereon which comprises, supporting said bottle for free rotation about its own axis and assigning to said bottle a predetermined angular position as determined by the orientation of said mark with respect to a stencil screen, moving said bottle and the supporting means therefor bodily toward said stencil screen, effecting rotation of the bottle throughout a predetermined degree of angularity prior to presentation of said bottle to said stencil screen, establishing tangential rolling line contact between the exterior surface of said bottle and the stencil screen, forcing coloring material through said screen and onto a selected area of the exterior surface of said bottle, supporting said bottle for free rotation about its own axis and assigning to said bottle a predetermined angular position as determined by the orientation of said mark with respect to a second stencil screen, moving the bottle and the supporting means therefor bodily toward said last mentioned screen, effecting rotation of the bottle throughout a predetermined degree of angularity prior to presentation of said bottle to said last mentioned stencil screen, establishing tangential rolling line contact between the exterior surface of said bottle and said last mentioned stencil screen, and forcing coloring material onto a selected area on the exterior surface of said bottle.

16. The method of applying differently colored pigments to selected areas on the exterior surface of a bottle having a locating mark thereon which comprises, supporting said bottle for free rotation about its own axis and assigning to said bottle a predetermined angular position as determined by the orientation of said.

mark with respect to a stencil screen, moving said bottle and the supporting means therefor bodily toward said stencil screen, interposing in the path of movement of said bottle and supporting means a traction device adapted to be engaged by said supporting means and which by rolling contact therewith causes the latter to be rotated throughout a predetermined angular degree prior to presentation of said bottle to said stencil screen, establishing tangential rolling line contact between the exterior surface of said bottle and the stencil screen, forcing coloring material through said screen and onto a selected area on the exterior surface of said bottle, supporting said bottle for free rotation about its own axis and assigning to said bottle a predetermined angular position as determined by the orientation of said mark with respect to a second stencil screen, moving said bottle and the supporting means therefor bodily toward said last mentioned screen, interposing in the path of movement of said bottle and supporting means a second traction device adapted to be engaged by said supporting means and which by rolling contact therewith causes the latter to be rotated throughout a predetermined angular degree prior to presentation of said bottle to said last mentioned stencil screen, establishing tangential rolling line contact between the exterior surface of said bottle and said last mentioned stencil screen, and forcing coloring material through said last mentioned stencil screen and onto a selected area on the exterior surface of said bottle.

17. In an apparatus for decorating articles, a plurality of article supporting units for rotatably supporting and conveying articles to be decorated from a receiving zone to a decorating zone, means operable during the travel of the articles from said receiving zone to said decorating zone for successively rotating the articles about their respective axes, and means for arresting such rotation when the articles have attained a predetermined orientation in their respective supporting units.

oARaoLL com. 

